.jpg)
Three new head coaches have joined the staff at Mountain Gateway Community College to lead three different Roadrunner sports teams when the fall semester begins, according to MGCC athletic director Vince Wyatt.
William Yarbrough is the new head men’s basketball coach; Roy Redmon will lead the women’s basketball team; and Ryan Borden is the new head Esports coach. They join Wyatt, who also serves as the head coach for track and field at MGCC, and Kim Jefferson, head coach for the cheerleading squad.
“Yarbrough brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in basketball to the Roadrunners program as a coach, trainer, and scout,” said Wyatt. Most recently, Yarbrough spent the past two seasons at Averett University where he was lead assistant and head of recruiting.
Yarbrough has been the president of the North Carolina Cavs Basketball Club, as well as an assistant coach at J.F. Webb High School and head scout at Wake Tech Community College. Previously, he also served as a head coach for the Vance Charter High School boys’ basketball team (2016), head coach for the Crossroads Christian varsity (2014-15) and middle school (2013-14) girls’ basketball teams, and AAU coach for the Royal Knights (2012-16) while also working numerous basketball camps. He has coached teams to 50 AAU tournament titles in a nine-year span and his 2014 team finished second in the nation at NTBA nationals. Meanwhile, Yarbrough has helped more than 50 youths go on to play basketball in college.
Yarbrough, a native of Franklinton, N.C., played collegiately at NC Wesleyan College from 2010 to 2013. As a member of the Battling Bishops, he helped NC Wesleyan win the 2010-11 USA South regular season and tournament championships and was named to the 2010-11 All-Tournament Team. Yarbrough earned the program’s most improved player award in 2010 and was named to the USA South All-Sportsmanship Team in 2010. - Born and raised in Alleghany County, Redmon is a 1990 graduate of Alleghany High School. He began coaching girls’ basketball in 1994. He coached several years at the youth league level before becoming involved in the AAU circuits.
Redmon has coached girls’ basketball at Clifton Middle School, and Covington High School’s JV and varsity girls’ basketball teams.
Redmon lives in the Callaghan area of Alleghany County with his wife, Heather, and their children, Rebekah and Hannah.
“We are excited to have Roy join our team,” said Wyatt. “He brings years of coaching experience, a strong connection with our community, and the passion for basketball as well as academics.” - Borden, who resides in Hot Springs, helped start the Esports program at Bath County High School.
He comes to MGCC with four years Esports coaching experience at the high school level. Borden has coached teams in titles such as Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and League of Legends.
Esports – short for electronic sports - is a form of competition using video games. Recently, Lumos made a donation of $5,000 to the Esports program at MGCC.
“Coach Borden is excited to get the students at MGCC involved in Esports, in creating a welcoming inclusive team, and in competing in as many matches as possible,” said Wyatt.
“His top goals are to spread the word about Esports to the community, get MGCC competing/playing matches, and keeping sportsmanship/professionalism as a focus.” - Jefferson, who coaches the MGCC cheerleading squad, has also served as a cheerleading coach at CHS, her alma mater. She joined the sports staff at MGCC in 2022.
Wyatt was originally hired as the track and field coach, and has since been named the MGCC athletic director.
The men’s and women’s basketball schedules are still being finalized, but their seasons will begin in early November, said Wyatt. Esports will begin as early as the first day of the fall semester, Aug. 21.
MGCC Athletics is made possible by several community partners who sponsor the MGCC sports programs. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how to help continue to build MGCC’s Athletic Department, call the MGCC Educational Foundation at (540) 863-2837.
For more information about sports programs at MGCC, contact Wyatt at (540) 863-2938 or [email protected].
